Corca Dhuibhne Student Entrepreneurs looking to clean up at European Junior Entrepreneur Competition
Five young entrepreneurs from the Kerry Gaeltacht will be competing for their country, at Europe’s largest young entrepreneur Competition in Catania, Sicily in Italy next week and you can help them ‘clean up’ by going online to vote for them.
The students from Corca Dhuibhne in the Kerry Gaeltacht overcame competition from dozens of other Gaeltachta secondary school mini companies from around the country to represent Ireland at the Junior Achievement Europe, Company of the Year Competition with their eco-friendly cleaning products.
Their winning mini company, Glan Go Glas, was established by Kate Ní Shúilleabháin, Katie Ní Éineacháin, Ríona Ní Ghealbháin, Oisín Ó Dubhda agus Cian Ó Gallchóir from Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne in An Daingean, Co. Kerry. The JA Europe Gen-E Competition which takes place in Catania, Sicily from the 2nd to 5th July and sees approximately 1,000 participants from around Europe compete.
The qualifying competition in Ireland is run in conjunction with Junior Achievement Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta’s Clár na gComhlachtaí entrepreneurship programme and this is the sixth time an Irish team has had the opportunity to participate at the European level of the competition.
‘Glan go Glas’ is a mini company that provides premium cleaning products that prioritise environmental responsibility. Their mission is to offer innovative eco-friendly cleaning solutions to meet the growing demand for environmentally responsible household cleaning products. Since they commenced production, the product has attracted great interest. The Kerry Gaeltacht entrepreneurs fought off stiff opposition from more than 600 transition year students from Gaeltacht schools in Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Waterford and Meath to scoop the national Údarás na Gaeltachta Clár na gComhlachtaí competition in April. The national final gave Glan Go Glas valuable experience in competing against other top-quality projects and they managed to outperform them all based on the quality of their innovative business idea and overall performance on the day. The successful company Glan Go Glás were mentored by their teachers in Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, who helped them to develop their business idea along with support from Údarás na Gaeltachta and Junior Achievement Ireland executives.
Public Choice Award
Glan Go Glas is also eligible for the Public Choice Award, which will be decided through an online public vote here https://expo.gen-e.eu/. The voting is now open for the duration of the competition where the public can vote early and often for the Kerry entrepreneurs!!
During the course of the European Final, Kate, Katie, Ríona, Oisín and Cian will present their product, company, progress and plans to the judges and to other competing junior entrepreneurs from other EU member states.
Tomás Ó Síocháin, Údarás na Gaeltachta Chief Executive commented:
“Údarás na Gaeltachta is proud to be sending a team of the calibre of Glan Go Glas to Europe not only to represent Ireland whilst showcasing Irish creativity and imagination but also to represent our unique Gaeltacht areas. It is inspiring to witness such enterprising young people participate at the Údarás na Gaeltachta Clár na gComhlachtaí 2024. Their knowledge and enthusiasm for their business ideas indicates that future entrepreneurship in the Gaeltacht is safe. We wish Kate, Katie, Ríona, Oisín and Cian and everyone at Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne the very best of luck.”
Helen Raftery, CEO of Junior Achievement Ireland added:
“Clár na gComhlachtaí, supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta has enabled 600 students attending schools in all the Gaeltacht regions to develop and practise entrepreneurial skills this year, which will be invaluable as they progress in school and into their careers. I wish to thank Údarás na Gaeltachta as well as leaders in our partner schools and business mentors, for making these learning experiences available to students. Finally, congratulations to our Údarás na Gaeltachta Clár na gComhlachtaí 2024 winners, Glan Go Glas from Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, An Daingean, Co. Kerry. The team will represent Ireland at the JA Europe Company of the Year Competition in Catania, Sicily next week where they will meet and compete with student entrepreneurs from 40 other countries around Europe.”